Big Innings Propel Flashes Past Spartans

Sunday, February 24

Conway, SC

9:30 a.m.

Kent State University

1-5

Michigan State University

1-6

Michigan State

Kent State

2/24/2019 12:49:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

CONWAY, S.C. – The Kent State University baseball team (1-5) notched its first win of the 2019 season, topping Michigan State (1-6), 12-2 in the first ever meeting between the two schools. Redshirt sophomore Ben Carew went 3-for-5 with a double, tallying five RBIs on the day.

Senior John Schreiber earned the win on the mound, tossing 5.0 innings, striking out three and allowing only three hits and two walks. Freshman Luke Albright added 4.0 innings of relief, allowing just one hit and fanning three.

"We got a solid start from John Schreiber," head coach Jeff Duncan said. "I thought he pitched a respectable game and mixed his pitches well. He kept us in the game and controlled the running game really well, especially when Michigan State was ahead early. He had a really great pickoff move and caught a couple runners."

Kent State fell behind 2-0 early in the top of the second, but the Flashes responded with a big third and fourth inning to secure the win. After the second inning, the Flashes allowed only three runners on base the rest of the game, two of which were picked off on the base paths.

"We played great defense behind our pitchers today," Duncan added. "Luke Albright threw well in relief. He threw strikes and made his pitches, and did great in doing his job to close the game."

In the bottom of the third, junior Patrick Ferguson and senior Pete Schuler led off the half inning with walks and senior Josh Hollander advanced them on a sacrifice bunt. Freshman Collin Mathews loaded the bases, reaching on a drop third strike and Carew cleared the bases with a three-run double. The Flashes loaded the bases again for sophomore Greg Lewandoski to add two runs on a single.

Senior Pavin Parks led off the bottom of the fourth with a walk and advanced on a single from Ferguson. Schuler notched the sixth run of the game, scoring Parks on a single to left field. Hollander loaded the bases with a single, and Ferguson scored on a wild pitch. Carew followed with a single up the middle, tallying his fourth and fifth RBI of the game, and Touchette knocked in the last run of the inning on a single to center field.

The Flashes added runs in the fifth and sixth innings to bring the final score to 12-2.

The Kent State offense recorded ten hits from six Flashes, including two doubles. Carew led with three hits, and Ferguson, Parks and Schuler added two hits apiece. Lewandoski, senior Schuler and Touchette also contributed multi-RBI games in the win.

"Offensively, we took our walks. The two big innings started with walks," Duncan explained. "Ferguson and Schuler's lead off walks followed by the sac bunt by Hollander and the big timely hit from Carew got us going. From there we really took off. We had effective offense in every facet – moving on the bases and showing bunt – which was really what we want to see."

Next up, the Flashes will travel to Charleston, S.C. to face Charleston Southern on Tuesday, Feb. 26 at 6:00 p.m.